An urgent warning has been issued as the Santa Ana winds are forecast to bring gusts of up to 70 mph to some areas of Southern California this weekend.
The National Weather Service issues advisories for large swaths of Los Angeles and Ventura counties, cautioning that the winds could knock down trees and power lines and make driving difficult.
The gusts will kick up on Friday across much of the Los Angeles area before intensifying early Saturday morning, with winds ranging from 15 to 25 mph and gusts of up to 40 mph. A wind advisory for the area is in effect from 6am to 6pm Saturday.
Even more severe conditions are expected in the San Gabriel Mountains, Santa Susana Mountains, Highway 14 Corridor, Mount Baldy and Wrightwood — with winds from 25 to 40 mph and gusts up to 70 mph, according to the National Weather Service.
Both advisories warned of potentially hazardous driving conditions, especially for taller vehicles.
A wet winter means there is no current wildfire risk from the Santa Anas, which are common during the cooler months and have led to some of California’s most devastating fires.
The weather service describes the winds as “strong, hot, dust-bearing” gusts that sweep in from inland desert areas before descending on the Pacific Coast near Los Angeles, according to the the weather service.
The winds — often dubbed “Devil Winds” — are believed to be named after the Santa Ana Canyon in Orange County.
When they swept through Southern California in January 2025, the “hurricane force” gusts led to the deadly Palisades and Eaton Fires that destroyed thousands of homes.